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Five neighbourhoods

Hanoi, one neighbourhood at a time

The city is easier to hold in five parts. Each has its own streets, its own hours and its own manners.

A print of tall, narrow Old Quarter houses side by side: balconies and railings in black line, indigo shutters, red doors, an ochre gable and a green street tree under a tangle of wires.A photograph of tall, narrow Old Quarter houses side by side: balconies and railings in black line, indigo shutters, red doors, an ochre gable and a green street tree under a tangle of wires.

The Old Quarter

Phố Cổ: Thirty-six streets, each named for what it sold.

A print of the front of the Hà Nội Opera House: an ochre facade of columns and tall arched windows, a green dome with a yellow flag above it, and indigo doorways along the base.A photograph of the front of the Hà Nội Opera House: an ochre facade of columns and tall arched windows, a green dome with a yellow flag above it, and indigo doorways along the base.

Hoàn Kiếm and the French Quarter

Hoàn Kiếm: A lake at the centre, and wide streets laid out around it.

A print of One Pillar Pagoda: a clay-brown timber pavilion with a sweeping tiled roof standing on a single thick pillar above a lotus pond, a white stone wall at the left and jade trees behind.A photograph of One Pillar Pagoda: a clay-brown timber pavilion with a sweeping tiled roof standing on a single thick pillar above a lotus pond, a white stone wall at the left and jade trees behind.

Ba Đình and Văn Miếu

Ba Đình: The formal quarter, and the first university.

A print of the gate of Trấn Quốc pagoda: an ochre gateway under a red tiled roof with curling dragon ridges, a wide arch opening on a green tree and a path, red doors in the side arches and rocks at the corner.A photograph of the gate of Trấn Quốc pagoda: an ochre gateway under a red tiled roof with curling dragon ridges, a wide arch opening on a green tree and a path, red doors in the side arches and rocks at the corner.

Tây Hồ and West Lake

Tây Hồ: The largest lake in the city, and the flowers on its shore.

A print of Long Biên Bridge seen from below: the iron trusses drawn in black line and painted ochre, green and red, against bare paper sky.A photograph of Long Biên Bridge seen from below: the iron trusses drawn in black line and painted ochre, green and red, against bare paper sky.

Long Biên and the Red River

Long Biên: An iron bridge, and the river the city is named for.